Understanding influences on smoking in Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults: community based, qualitative study.
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Date
03/05/2003Author
Bhopal, Raj
White, M
Kai, Joe
Rankin, J
Bush, J
Metadata
Abstract
Objective To gain detailed understanding of
influences on smoking behaviour in Bangladeshi and
Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom to
inform the development of effective and culturally
acceptable smoking cessation interventions.
Design Qualitative study using community
participatory methods, purposeful sampling, one to
one interviews, focus groups, and a grounded
approach to data generation and analysis.
Setting Newcastle upon Tyne, during 2000-2.
Participants 87 men and 54 women aged 18-80
years, smokers and non-smokers, from the
Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities.
Results Four dominant, highly inter-related themes
had an important influence on smoking attitudes and
behaviour: gender, age, religion, and tradition.
Smoking was a widely accepted practice in Pakistani,
and particularly Bangladeshi, men and was associated
with socialising, sharing, and male identity. Among
women, smoking was associated with stigma and
shame. Smoking in women is often hidden from
family members. Peer pressure was an important
influence on smoking behaviour in younger people,
who tended to hide their smoking from elders. There
were varied and conflicting interpretations of how
acceptable smoking is within the Muslim religion.
Tradition, culture, and the family played an important
role in nurturing and cultivating norms and values
around smoking.
Conclusion Although there are some culturally
specific contexts for smoking behaviour in
Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults—notably the
influence of gender and religion—there are also
strong similarities with white people, particularly
among younger adults. Themes identified should help
to inform the development and appropriate targeting
of smoking cessation interventions.